Knitting machine



Nov. 17,1959 R. H. LAWSON ETAL. 2,912,839

KNITTING MACHINE ori inal Filed Febjwls. 1947 N 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT H. LAWSON Bx PAUL W. BRISTOW, Deceased, by MILDRED S. BRlSTOW,Execuirix,

ATTOR N E S Nov. 17, 1959 v R. H. LAWSON ETAL 2,912,339

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Feb. 15. 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet. 3

f v 464 LOW FiG. 3.

. JNVENTORS ROBERT M. LAWSON PAUL W. BRQSTOW, Deceflsed,

by WHLDRED S. BRESTDW, Execuirix,

R. H. LAWSON ET AL Nov. 17, 1959 KNITTING MAQHINE Original Filed Feb. 13. 1947 FlG. 9.

AF'IBU ISb 34s 54s 342a s Sheets-Sheet 5 (3' lBc IOC I .INVENTORS ROBERT 'H. LAWSON 8 PAUL W. BRISTOW, by MILDRED S. BRISTOW, Exncutrlx,

ATTORNEYS Nov. 17, 1959 R. H. LAWSON ETA!- KNITTING MACHINE v 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Feb. 13,1947

o o I sue s10 3'6 I j 320 i l I I I l v INVENTORS ROBERT H. LAWSON a PAUL W. BRISTO Decqqggd, F l by MILDRED s. BRISTO ,s nm,

I I m Ltd v ATTORN S United States Patent Ofifice 2,912,839 Patented Nov, 17, 1959 2,912,839 KNITTING MACHINE Robert H. Lawson, Pawtucket, R.I., and Paul W. Bristow, deceased, late of Laconia', N.H., by Mildred S. Bristow, executrix, Laconia, N .H., assignors to Scott & Williams,

, Incorporated, Laconia, N.H., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application February 13, 1947, Serial No. 728,226. now Patent No. 2,780,931, dated February 12, 1957. Divided and this application December 7, 1956, Serial No. 627,070

17 Claims. (Cl. 66-14) This invention relates to a knitting method and machine and has particular reference to the knitting of heel and toe pockets.

This application is a division of our application, Serial No. 728,226, filed February 13, 1947, nOW Patent 2,780,931. 1

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of means for control of needles during rotary and reciprocatory knitting in such fashion as to prevent the stretching of stitches carried by inactive needles during pocket formation.

Another object of the invention involves an improved butt arrangement for control of needles andin particular, the formation of narrow heels comprising less wales than those involved in toe formation.

These and other objects of the invention particularly relating to details of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an axial section through the upper portion of a knitting machine, particularly showing the wrap head and the upper cylinder;

Figure 2 is an axial section showing the needles and the parts in the vicinity thereof and directly cooperating therewith, and showing the construction of the lower cylinder and its associated parts; 1

Figure 3 is a developed view of the cams of the machine, the view looking outwardly from the axis of the needle cylinders;

Figures 4 to 8, inclusive, are developments of certain of the cams associated with the lower cylinder illustrating formation of a heel;

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating the butt arrangements of the upper and lower sliders and the jacks;

Figure 10 is a perspective view showing in particular the lowering pick and the means for controlling the same; and

Figure 11 is a diagram showing the parts of a typical stocking knit by the present machine and method.

In the present application there are illustrated only those parts of a knitting machine which are particularly concerned with the aspects of invention herein claimed; and reference may be made to the aforementioned parent application, Serial No. 728,226, filed February 13, 1947, issued on February 12, 1957, as Patent No. 2,780,931 for other aspects of the machine.

The knitting machine is of the superposed cylinder type comprising a lower cylinder 2 and an upper cylinder 3. Arranged to slide in slots in the lower cylinder are sliders 4 adapted to engage the lower hooks of double hook latch needles 6, the upper hooks of which are engageable by sliders 8a, 8b and 8c in the upper cylinder (see Figure 9).

The lower sliders 4 are provided with butts at two levels 10 and 12. The upper sliders -8 are provided with butts at two levels, at a lower level 16a, 16b and 160,

and at an upper level 18a, 18b and 18c, as shown in Figure 9. i

The cylinders are rotated and reciprocated in unison through the medium of a vertical shaft 34 which, through gearing indicated at 36 is driven by the lower cylinder and which, through gearing indicated at 40 and 42 drives the upper cylinder. The machine additionally involves the driving of a wrapping assembly which action is ef-. fected through gears 44 and 46, the former being carried by the shaft 34.

Arranged to cooperate with the needles are arcuate sinkers 48 which are provided with butts 50 arranged to be acted upon by stationary cams 52 supported by a nonrotating cylinder 54 inside the lower rotating cylinder. This cylinder 54 also supports the fabric guiding tube 56 provided with an extension 57.

The rotary support for the wrap yarn carrying means is indicated generally at 58. It is secured to the gear 46 and includes a member provided with an annular groove 60, in which groove are received the rounded pivot-forming projections 62 of wrap yarn carriers 64 surrounded by spring bands 66 and 82. Each of the wrap yarn carriers 64 has an upper extension 68 received in a notch 70 in an individual slider 72. These sliders 72 are provided with slots arranged so that they may embrace an annular ring 74 carried by the support 58. In order to guide the sliders 72 for radial movement and to position them in fixed circumferential location they are received in slots in the support 58. Each of the sliders is provided with a plurality of b utts 73. These butts may be selectively broken away so as to provide selection in the Butts 84 are provided on the wrap 'yarn carriers to provide for the positive inward movements of their lowerends.

At its lower end each wrap yarn carrier is provided, with a radially directed extension 86 which has'a downwardly extending branch 87 provided with the yarn guiding openings 88. Beyond these openings each carrier is provided with an abutment-engaging extension 90.

A lowering picker 310 is pivoted in the usual fashion to a vertical post arranged to oscillate about a vertical axis, the tail end of the picker being urged downwardly by a spring 311 so as to follow a double cam 312 during oscillatory movements of the supporting post upon engagement of the picker by a slider 4 moving in either direction. The conventional spring controlled arrangement indicated at 314 normally maintains the picker in central position. A lever 316 pivoted underneath the tail of the picker carries a cam 318 arranged to act thereon when the lever is'rocked against the action of the spring 320 by a Bowden wire actuated from the main cam drum 'of the machine. the picker its active end is held depressed to proper level for picking down raised inactive sliders.

In accordance with the present invention there is pivoted on a horizontal pin 330'an arm in the form of a bent stiff wire 328, which-arm is normally urged inwardly in a direction toward the needle cylinder by a spring (not shown).

. of the shaft 336 is provided with a cam'following arm 338 adpated to be engagedduring rotation of the needle cylinders by a cam 340 carried 'by the upper'needle cyl-" erated so that its tail is raised the wire lever. 328which,

When the cam 318 acts on A wire 334 carried by a vertical shaft 336 has a turned end embracing the lever 328. The upper end 43 normally rests against the tail will drop beneath the same, holding the active end of the picker in a lowered position between the raised slider butts at heel height and the butts at normal cleared level until release is effected by the action of the cam 340.

To the extent so far described, the elements of the machine are essentially the same in both their structures and functions to the corresponding elements shown and described in Bristow Patent No. 2,555,870, dated June 5,

In each of the slots of the lower cylinder below the lower slider therein there is a saw-tooth pattern jack 342, each pattern jack being provided with a butt 344 of one of two lengths as will be shortly described. Below this butt there are saw-tooth butts 346 arranged to be selectively acted upon by cams controlled by trick wheels. Below these saw-tooth butts each jack is provided with a fish-tail butt 348 providing upper and lower notches 350 and 352 in which there may engage cams. The jacks 342 are adapted to tilt in the lower cylinder slots and for this purpose their inner edges comprise straight portions meeting at points 354 which constitute the fulcra for rocking. The upper edges 356 are arranged for engagement with the lower ends of the lower sliders.

At this point there may be described the butt arrangements of the sliders and jacks. Figure 9 illustrates the various types of these elements which are used in a machine arranged for the production of stockings with narrow heels. The elements of the left hand set are those associated with needles which knit the instep of the stocking. The elements of the intermediate set are those associated with needles which knit the toe but do not knit the heel. The elements of the right hand set are those which are associated with needles which knit both the heel and toe. Usually the elements of the left hand set will extend about half the circumference of the cylinder, the elements of the right hand set will extend about the remainder of the circumference with the exception of, say, 6 to 12 slots on each side while these last slots will contain the elements of the central set.

Referring to the left hand set of elements associated with instep needles, the upper sliders 8a have short upper butts 18a and long lower butts 16a. The lower sliders 4a have long upper butts 10a and short narrow lower butts 12a. The jacks 342a have long butts 344a.

In the case of the intermediate set, the upper sliders 8b have medium length upper and lower butts 18b and 16b. The lower sliders 4b have medium length upper butts 10b while the lower butts 12b are of the form illustrated, these butts being of stepped shape higher than the butt of the sliders 4a with the upper step extending outwardly to the length of the short butt 12a while the lower step extends outwardly to form a medium length butt portion.

The jacks 342b are identical with the jacks 342a, being provided with long butts 34%.

In the case of the right hand set of elements the upper sliders 8c are provided with long upper butts 18c and short lower butts 160. The lower sliders 4c are provided with short upper butts 10c and long lower butts 120 which have a height corresponding to the overall height of the butts 12b. The jacks 3420 are provided with short butts 3440.

The jacks of all three sets have various saw-toothed butts selectively removable to provide patterning as described in detail in the parent application referred to above. Since the particular controls for the saw-toothed butts are not involved in the aspects of the invention herein claimed, these matters are not herein detailed but reference may be made to said parent application.

Referring to Figures 3 to 8, inclusive, these illustrate the cams particularly involved in heel and toe formation, there being additionally illustrated in Figure 3 the various cams which are involved in the knitting of other parts of the stocking, which knitting takes place as described in said parent application but which need not be described herein. As disclosed in said parent application not only wrapping but rib formation and other patterning occurs, knitting being involved at two feeds.

In accordance with the present inventon narrow heels are provided which are knit on the needles controlled by the sliders 40, which sliders, as pointed out heretofore, occupy substantially less than one-half the circumference of the cylinder. The object of the formation of the narrow heel is primarily to keep the corner needles knitting the heel away from the sweep of wrap yarns forming clocks down the centers of the sides of stockings so that wrapping can occur initially upon coming off the heel without interruption of the clocks where they pass the heel corners. All of the other patterning disclosed in said parent application may also be carried closely past the corners of the heel pocket to give designs uninterrupted from the leg into the instep. The narrow heels also have advantages in preventing the heel from showing above the tops of low shoes and of giving a better view of the stocking over the instep.

For an understanding of the knitting of heels reference may be made to Figure 3 on which are illustrated the paths of the lower butts of both the upper and lower sliders. All of the heel needles at this time have been transferred to the lower cylinder by the action of cam 498 and the stepping out of cams 514 and 552 so that heel needles are not selected for transfer to the upper cylinder. Cams 476 and 488 are in position to engage only long butts 18c of upper sliders and will miss the short butts 18a and medium butts 18b of upper sliders. By the action of these cams during the last rotation preceding the first reciprocation in the formation of the heel all of the upper sliders 8c are caused to move into the race at cleared level beneath the cams 478 and 496 where they act as latch guards for the needles which knit the heel.

Cams 484 and 494 are located in position to engage the long butts 16a and the intermediate butts 16b of upper sliders while missing the short butts 16c of the sliders 80. By the action of these cams the sliders 8a and 8b are caused to follow the welt race indicated in Figure 3 passing over the stitch cams 460 and 470.

Cams 514 and 552 are withdrawn for heel and toe knitting, leaving all jacks in the low inactive race. Cams 375 and 377 are raised so that the verge bits described in said parent application do not stretch the rib stitches held by instep needles in the upper cylinder.

During the formation of the heel, yarn drawing movements are imparted to the needles through the action of the stitch cams 456 and 458 which are moved into action sufiiciently far to engage the long butts of sliders 4c but to miss the short butts 12a and the steps of the intermediate butts 12b of the sliders 4a and 4b, these cams overlapping the narrow part of the intermediate butts 12b without engaging the same. By reason of the positions just described of the cams 456 and 458 they will not pull down the sliders 4a and 4b and accordingly will not stretch the loops carried by the needles controlled by these sliders. Cams 472 and 501 are located to engage long butts 120 only. With the exception of cam 474 all of the other radially movable cams, including stitch cam 454, are out of action.

As a consequence of the cam arrangement just described the sliders 4a and 4b follow the lowermost welt race indicated in Figure 3, i.e., passing the stitch cams 456 and 458 at a level slightly higher than the level to which the stitch cams depress sliders and passing the cams 472 and 501. The sliders 4c, on the other hand, follow the upper active path indicated in this figure during forward reciprocations, i.e., these sliders are moved downwardly by the cams 452 and 456 and then upwardly to cleared level by the successive actions of the cams 472, 473 and 474. In reverse reciprocation they are moved downwardly by the cams 452 and 458 and then upwardly to cleared level by the cams 501. The action involved is illustrated in Figure 4 in which the sliders 4a and 4b are shown riding at the low inactive level while the sliders 40 pass through knitting waves in both directions of movement. The leading slider 4b is indicated at 412, this figure representing conditions shortly prior to the end of the last rotation, at the end of which rotation the trailing slider 4c will have risen over the top of the cam 474. In Figure 4 and the successive figures of this same group the upper butts of the lower sliders are illustrated.

Narrowing now takes place in conventional fashion, the leading slider 40 in each reciprocation being raised by one of the pickers 512' and 514' so that the needles controlled by these sliders are successively raised out of action. At this time the lowering picker 310 occupies an upper position above the level of the upper butts of the raised sliders 4c. The picking action in the first reverse reciprocation is indicated in Figure 5 and in the following first forward reciprocation in Figure 6.

When the narrowing is completed, and the widening is to begin, the lowering picker 310 has its active end moved downwardly by the action of a cam on its tail portion. It is then in positionto be engaged by the lead ing inactive sliders 40 which are to be picked downwardly. a

A problem now arises, however, in the operation of the lowering picker in that unless proper precautions were taken it would be engaged by the leading inactive sliders on both ends of the series of inactive sliders 4c in both directions of reciprocation rather than merely the leading inactive sliders 4c following the group of lower active sliders 4c. Accordingly, there comes into operation the lever 328. The initial lowering'of the lowering picker by the cam 318 is causedto occur at the end of the stroke as the picker is reached by the central group of active sliders 40. Accordingly, it will engage the butts of the first two inactive sliders following this group and they will carry it forwardly so that by the action of one of the cams 312 its inner end will move downwardly to lower these sliders to the active level. Whenthe picker 310 is so lowered, the lever 328 will drop below its tail portion to hold it at a level between the inactive and active levels of the upper butts of the sliders 4c. It is accordingly passed by the upper butts of the inactive sliders 4!: at the ends of the series of these sliders in both directions of reciprocation, being released to an upper level by the action of the cam 340 which rocks the lever 328 out from beneath the tail portion offthe picker at the end of each reciprocation when the picker is reached by the central group of sliders 4c. Picking accordingly takes place in proper fashion despite the lower inactive positions of the sliders 4a and 4b, which, in conventional picking operations, would ride at a high level and prevent the undesired action of the lowering picker.- The widening accordingly proceeds with the lowering of two sliders and the raising of one in each reciprocation, the latter action being due to the continued action of the narrowing pickers. Figures 7 and 8 illustrate respectively the lowering picker action in forward and reverse reciprocations shortly following the release of the picker by the cam 340. Its latched inactive position is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 7. I V

The knitting of the heel, while holding the inactive instep needles ata low or welt level, is for the purpose of making possible the immediate wrapping of instep needles at tuck level upon completion 'of the heel and also to make unbroken float and tuck patterns since the loops carried by the inactive instep needles will not have cleared the latches prior to restoration to action. In the restoration of the sliders 4a and 4b to operation following the completion of the heel they are caused to ride upwardly by the restoration of cam '514 to action so that immediately upon coming into action jacks may pass through the necessary selection to render needles ready to take the wrap yarn. Empty sliders 4a and 4b follow the high inactive level followed by sliders 4c put out of operation by the pickers and thus these lower empty sliders are in position to receive needles from the upper sliders prior to knitting the first instep course to enable unbroken link-link patterns to be carried across the instep line. Stitch cam 454 is again rendered active, moving just indicated. At the completion of the heel the trick wheels, the advances of which were interrupted, are again stepped around to control the patterning. I

In the formation of the foot substantially the same operations as occurred during the formation of the leg are permitted to take place with the exception that in the formation of the foot wrapping may be interrupted in the sole and there may also be interrupted in the sole other pattern formation such as occured in the leg and should now continue through the instep.

The formation of the toe is carried out in a fashion quite similar to the formation of the heel with the exception that in the formation of the toe the sliders 4b and 4c together constitute the group controlling active needles. Likewise, the sliders 8b join the sliders so far as their paths are concerned. As will be evident this requires that the cams 476 and 488 should engage not only long butts 180 but intermediate butts 18b while missing shorts butts 18a, while cams 484 and 494 are located to engage long butts 16a while missing intermediate butts 16b and short butts 16c. Stitch cams 456 and 458 are moved all the way inwardly to engage not only the butts but the high inner portions of the butts 12b. Cams 472 and 501 are positioned to engage not only the long butts 120 but the intermediate butts 12b as well. As a result of these cam positions the panel of needles knitting the toe is increased beyond the panel knitting the heel so that, as usual, approximately onehalf the needles are used for the formation of the toe.

Figure 11 indicates diagrammatically the component parts of stockings formed in accordance with the procedures indicated above. Stockings are produced in a continuous series by the present machine, to be separated by removal of draw threads. In Figure 11, 598 indicates the terminal portion of a stocking preceding the one which will be briefly described. The loopers rounds 600 are followed by l x 1 rib which need only be approximately one course in extent, this being indicated at 602.. Following this at 604 is one of the draw thread constructions described in said parent application including, in the case of a press-0E draw thread, a preliminary welt formation.

The draw thread structure is followed at 606 by a welt and the top of the stocking is preferably formed as 1 X 1 ribbed fabric 608 formed with single or two feed.

The rib top is followed by the leg 610, which, in Figure 11, has been illustrated without an attempt to show its structure, since its structure may be of any of the numerous types described in said parent application. It will be evident that all of the types of patterns therein discussed are consistent with the formation of the other parts of the stocking, and may be interrupted during the formation of the heel, above the heel, and in the sole. In particular, designs (wrap, tuck, float, rib, links and links, jacquard, etc.) may be carried continuously from the leg into the instep past the corners of the heel in those wales which form the toe but not the heel.

Preceding the formation of the heel, plain fabric may be knitted as indicated at 612 on the needleswhich are to form the sole, this being accomplished by interrup tion of the patterning. The narrow heel which has been described above is indicated at 614 and it will be noted that its corners terminate short of the wale indicated by the chain line 616 which corresponds to the corner of the toe. The leg patterning will normally be continued through the instep 618 but may be interrupted in the sole 620 where plain fabric is knit with single or two feed.

An advance toe 622 of plain fabric may precede the toe 624 which is followed by the loopers rounds 600 completing the cycle. It will be evident from the description of the machine that stockings of numerous types other than that just indicated may be produced and also that the invention is applicable to the knitting of other articles than stockings. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention described herein is not to be construed as limited except as required by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by the cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for rendering inactive a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for rendering inactive at the beginning of formation of a toe a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for effecting wrapping on needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

2. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by the cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for rendering inactive a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for rendering inactive at the beginning of formation of a toe a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for effecting wrapping on needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel during the knitting of the first rotary course following completion of the heel.

3. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by the cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level at the beginning of formation of a toe of a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for effecting wrapping on needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

4. A knitting hosiery machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by the cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level at the beginning of formation of a toe of a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for effecting wrapping on needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel during the knitting of the first rotary course following completion of the heel.

5. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by said cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level at the beginning of formation of a toe of a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included 8 in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of'the heel, and means for controlling during the knitting of the first rotary course following completion of the heel, for the formation of patterns, needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

6. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by said cylinder, yarn feeding means, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for rendering inactive at the beginning of formation of a toe a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for controlling during the knitting of the first rotary course following completion of the heel, for the formation of patterns, needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

7. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a cylinder, knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder and movable to form stitches, said instrumentalities having knitting butts at two levels, and a pair of stitch cams selectively operable to act on the butts at said two levels, one of said stitch cams acting thereon during rotary knitting and the other of said stitch cams acting thereon during forward reciprocatory knitting of pockets.

8. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a cylinder, knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder and movable to form stitches, said instrumentalities having knitting butts at two levels, a stitch cam active during rotary knitting upon the butts at one of said levels. and a pair of stitch cams active during reciprocatory knitting upon the butts at the other of said levels.

9. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a cylinder, knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder and movable to form stitches, said instrumentalities having knitting butts at two levels, a stitch cam active during rotary knitting upon the butts at one of said levels, means for locating some of said instrumentalities at a low inactive welt level during the formation of pockets by reciprocatory knitting, and a second stitch cam active during forward reciprocatory knitting of pockets upon the butts of active instrumentalities at the other of said levels.

10. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a cylinder, knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder and movable to form stitches, said instrumentalities having knitting butts of long, intermediate and short lengths arranged with a panel of instrumentalities having long butts flanked by panels of instrumentalities having intermediate length butts, the circle of instrumentalities being completed by those having short butts, means for rendering inactive the instrumentalities having short and intermediate length butts and for producing knitting by the instrumentalities having long butts for the formation of heels, and means for rendering inactive the instrumentalities having short butts and for producing knitting by the instrumentalities having long and intermediate butts for the formation of toes.

ll. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a cylinder, knitting instrumentalities carried by said cylinder and movable to form stitches, said instrumentalities having knitting butts of long, intermediate and short lengths arranged with a panel of instrumentalities having long butts flanked by panels of instrumentalities having intermediate length butts, the circle of instrumentalities being completed by those having short butts, means for rendering inactive at low welt level the instrumentalities having short and intermediate length butts and for producing knitting by the instrumentalities having long butts for the formation of heels, and means for rendering inactive at low welt level the instrumentalities having short butts and for producing knitting by the instrumentalities having long and intermediate butts for the formation of toes.

12. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a pair of cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said cylinders, sliders mounted in said cylinders and movable to control movements of said needles, a stitch cam at one level to form stitches on needles in one of said cylinders during rotary knitting, and a pair of opposed stitch cams at a second level to form stitches on needles in the same cylinder during reciprocatory knitting.

13. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising superposed cylinders, double-ended latch needles slidable in said cylinders, sliders mounted in said cylinders and movable to control movements of said needles, a stitch cam at one level operating on sliders in the lower cylinder to form stitches during rotary knitting, a pair of stitch cams at a second level operating on sliders in the lower cylinder to form stitches during reciprocatory knitting, means causing sliders in the lower cylinder to ride at a low inactive level during reciprocatory knitting so as not to be acted upon by any of the aforementioned stitch cams, and means for picking needles to a high inactive level.

14. A knitting machine according to claim 13 having means for causing sliders in the upper cylinder, corresponding to sliders in the lower cylinder riding at said low inactive level, to move in a. welt race during reciprocatory knitting, and for causing sliders in the upper cylinder, corresponding to active sliders in the lower cylinder, to move in a pathway below cams associated with the upper cylinder to guard latches of active needles in the lower cylinder.

15. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a pair of cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said cylinders, sliders mounted in said cylinders and movable to control movements of said needles, yarn feeding means, means for eifecting the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for effecting the location at an inactive low level at the beginning of formation of a toe of a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for controlling during the knitting of the first rotary course follow ing completion of the heel, for the formation of patterns, needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

16. A hosiery knitting and reciprocatory knitting comprising a pair of cylinders, double-ended needles slidable in said cylinders, sliders mounted in said cylinders and movable to control movements of said needles, yarn feeding means, means for elTectin-g the location at an inactive low level of a panel of instep needles at the beginning of formation of a heel, means for rendering inactive at the beginning of formation of a toe a panel of instep needles less in number than, but included in, the panel of instep needles rendered inactive at the beginning of formation of the heel, and means for controlling during the knitting of the first rotary course following completion of the heel, for the formation of patterns, needles of the first mentioned panel not included in the second mentioned panel.

17. A hosiery knitting machine capable of both rotary and reciprocatory knitting comprising a needle cylinder, needles carried by the cylinder, yarn feeding means, cam means for raising and lowering heel and toe needles during reciprocatory movement of the cylinder to form stitches, means for effecting the location of instep needles at an inactive low level during reciprocatory knitting, and means to lower heel and toe needles to stitch drawing level while permitting instep needles to pass said cams at a higher level thus preventing straining said instep stitches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,170,078 Houseman Aug. 22, 1939 2,178,911 Lawson NOV. 7, 1939 2,217,022 Lawson et al Oct. 8, 1940 2,387,253 Getaz Oct. 23, 1945 2,555,870 Bristow June 5, 1951 2,648,963 Holmes Aug. 18, 1953 machine capable of both rotary- 

